Jiddu Krishnamurti (pronounced JID-oo KRISH-nə-MOOR-tee; born May 11, 1895; died February 17, 1986) was an Indian spiritual leader, teacher, and writer. As a child, he was adopted by members of the Theosophical Society, who raised him to become the prophesied World Teacher, a role meant to help guide humanity’s spiritual growth. In 1922, he began experiencing painful, mysterious, seizure-like episodes that changed how he viewed the world. In 1929, he left the Theosophical movement and ended the Order of the Star in the East, a group formed around him. For the rest of his life, he traveled globally, speaking to people in hopes of helping humanity change in a meaningful way.

Krishnamurti believed that "truth is a pathless land" and encouraged people not to follow any specific doctrine, teacher, or authority, including himself. However, he shared his ideas through his teachings, which encouraged a way of thinking without relying on words or thoughts. He believed that true righteousness could only be achieved through a practice called "passive or choiceless awareness," which he described as the core of "true meditation," different from other methods. He became more widely known in the 1950s after Aldous Huxley introduced him to a major publisher, leading to the release of The First and Last Freedom (1954). Many of his talks and writings, such as Commentaries on Living (1956–60) and Krishnamurti’s Notebook (written 1961–62), were published later.

A few days before his death, Krishnamurti said no one had fully understood the spiritual or intellectual experiences he had lived through, and that such experiences would not happen again for many centuries. His supporters, through non-profit organizations in India, Britain, and the United States, manage schools based on his educational ideas and continue to share his talks, writings, and dialogues in many languages and formats.

Biography

Krishnamurti was born during the late British Raj. His birth date is not agreed on by everyone. Mary Lutyens says he was born on May 11, 1895. However, Christine Williams points out that birth records from that time were not always reliable. She mentions that other sources suggest his birth was between May 4, 1895, and May 25, 1896. Williams used a published horoscope to calculate May 11, 1895, but she remains unsure about its accuracy.

Krishnamurti was born in the small town of Madanapalle in the Madras Presidency, which is now part of Annamayya District in Andhra Pradesh. He was born into a Telugu-speaking Brahmin family. His father, Jiddu Narayanaiah, worked as an official in the British colonial government. Krishnamurti was close to his mother, Sanjeevamma, who died when he was ten years old. His parents had eleven children, but only six survived childhood.

In 1903, the family moved to Kadapa, where Krishnamurti had previously contracted malaria. He suffered from the disease repeatedly over the years. Described as sensitive and often sick, Krishnamurti was sometimes considered to have learning difficulties. He was frequently punished by teachers and his father. In memoirs he wrote at eighteen, Krishnamurti described seeing his deceased sister and mother. He also felt a deep connection to nature, which he said was not something he learned but something he always felt. In his journal, he wrote, "He always had this strange lack of distance between himself and the trees, rivers, mountains. It wasn't cultivated."

Krishnamurti’s father retired in 1907 and later found work at the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in Adyar. Narayanaiah had been a member of the Theosophical Society since 1882 and was eventually hired as a clerk. The family moved to Adyar in January 1909 and initially lived in a small cottage near the society’s compound.

Krishnamurti was a vegetarian from birth, and his family followed a strict vegetarian lifestyle. He opposed eating meat for ethical and spiritual reasons. He also did not drink alcohol, smoked, or used drugs. He practiced yoga regularly.

In April 1909, Krishnamurti met Charles Webster Leadbeater, who claimed to have the ability to see things others could not. Leadbeater saw Krishnamurti on the beach near the Adyar River and was amazed by the "most wonderful aura" he saw, which he said had no selfishness in it. Ernest Wood, who helped Krishnamurti with schoolwork, thought he was "particularly dim-witted." Leadbeater believed Krishnamurti would become a spiritual teacher and a great speaker, and that he was the chosen "vehicle" for the World Teacher, an advanced spiritual being in Theosophical beliefs. The World Teacher was supposed to use Krishnamurti’s body to guide humanity, but Theosophists did not believe Krishnamurti himself would be the World Teacher.

Pupul Jayakar, a biographer, quotes Krishnamurti reflecting on this time 75 years later. He said, "The boy had always said 'I will do whatever you want.' There was an element of subservience, obedience. The boy was vague, uncertain, woolly; he didn’t seem to care what was happening. He was like a vessel with a large hole in it, whatever was put in, went through, nothing remained." Krishnamurti described his own state of mind as a young boy: "No thought entered his mind. He was watching and listening and nothing else. Thought with its associations never arose. There was no image-making. He often attempted to think but no thought would come."

After Leadbeater discovered Krishnamurti, the Theosophical Society in Adyar helped raise and prepare him as the "vehicle" for the World Teacher. Leadbeater and a few trusted people educated and protected Krishnamurti. Krishnamurti and his younger brother, Nityananda, were privately taught at the Theosophical compound in Madras and later lived among European high society while continuing their education abroad. Despite past struggles with schoolwork and health, Krishnamurti learned to speak and write English well within six months. Later in life, Krishnamurti said he believed being discovered by Leadbeater saved his life. When asked what would have happened if he had not been found, he said, "I would have died."

During this time, Krishnamurti formed a strong bond with Annie Besant, who he saw as a mother figure. His father initially agreed to Besant’s legal guardianship but was pushed aside by the attention surrounding Krishnamurti. In 1912, his father sued Besant to end the guardianship. After a long legal battle, Besant gained custody of Krishnamurti and his brother. This separation from his family made Krishnamurti and his brother rely more on each other, and they often traveled together in the following years.

In 1911, the Theosophical Society created the Order of the Star in the East (OSE) to prepare the world for the expected arrival of the World Teacher. Krishnamurti was named its leader, with senior Theosophists holding other roles. Membership was open to anyone who believed in the coming of the World Teacher. This caused controversy within the Theosophical Society and among Hindus and the Indian press.

Mary Lutyens, a biographer, says Krishnamurti once believed he would become the World Teacher with proper guidance and education. Another biographer describes the strict daily routine imposed on Krishnamurti by Leadbeater and his associates, which included exercise, school subjects, Theosophical lessons, yoga, and instruction in British culture

Schools

Krishnamurti founded five schools in India. The oldest is Rishi Valley School, which he established in 1928 in Andhra Pradesh, ten miles from Madanapalle, his birthplace. He also founded Brockwood Park School in England in 1969 and Oak Grove School in California. When asked about his educational goals, he listed the following:

• Global outlook: Students should see the whole world and understand how parts connect, avoiding biased or narrow views.
• Care for people and the environment: Humans are part of nature. If nature is not protected, it can cause harm to people. Proper education and strong care among people worldwide can help solve problems, including environmental challenges.
• Religious spirit with scientific thinking: A religious mindset is not lonely. It involves connection with others and the natural world, along with respect for science and knowledge.

The Krishnamurti Foundations, created in India, the United States, and England in the 1960s, oversee seven schools in India and other countries.

'The teaching' – self-observation and 'vast emptiness'

Krishnamurti was a person who deeply admired the beauty of nature. He strongly believed that humans often acted cruelly and caused harm to themselves, and he encouraged people to act righteously without using complex ideas or thinking. He thought that true righteousness could only happen if people completely changed their minds, observing their thoughts and limitations without emotional involvement. He believed that he was chosen by a great intelligence to share this message with others, but he realized at the end of his life that no one else had experienced this intelligence as he had.

Peter Michel wrote that mystical experiences shaped Krishnamurti's life and teachings. Krishnamurti said that truth appears when there is no thinking. His biographer, Mary Lutyens, noted that at his deathbed, he described "that vast emptiness." Krishnamurti saw himself as free and unconditioned, urging others to understand his state of being and to seek similar transformation. He often referred to his teachings as a collective effort, not his own. He compared himself to Thomas Edison, saying he had created a path for others to follow. Those who came after him would not need his special abilities, only to "turn the switch" and continue.

The Krishnamurti Foundations state that the main idea of his teachings is found in his 1929 speech, where he rejected the Theosophical Society and their spiritual system guided by "Masters." In this speech, he said, "truth is a pathless land," and warned against following any doctrine, teacher, or authority, including himself.

Shai Tubali wrote that Krishnamurti's teachings focused on dialogue meant to bring change. However, John Algeo and Peter Michel noted that real dialogue was rare, as Krishnamurti often used such invitations to begin a monologue. Krishnamurti believed that a deep change was possible for anyone, without needing a teacher or guru.

When asked to summarize his teachings in one sentence, Krishnamurti said, "Attempt without effort to live with death in futureless silence," and explained that truth cannot be found through organized religion or techniques, but through relationships, self-understanding, and self-observation. He believed that mental images people create protect them from fear but also harm their ability to see clearly. Freedom comes from letting go of these images and observing life without choosing or distorting. He rejected meditation techniques, instead emphasizing "choiceless awareness" as the true form of meditation.

During meetings with Nehru in 1947, Krishnamurti explained his teachings, saying, "Observe the self in operation, learn about it, watch it, be aware of it. Do not try to destroy it, get rid of it, or change it—just watch it, without any choice or distortion. Out of that watching and learning, the self disappears."

While many were influenced by Krishnamurti's personality, both he and others noted that his teachings did not seem to change people. At his deathbed, he said, "I have done nothing." Krishnamurti tried to share his experience of "the otherness" without a method, as he believed any method would be another form of control. In 1935, when Rom Landau asked him how he could help others, Krishnamurti replied, "It is not my job to help others."

Emily Lutyens once wrote to Krishnamurti, and Mary Lutyens observed that many people attended his talks for practical reasons, not for the goal of radical change he aimed for.

Despite this, interest in Krishnamurti's work has continued after his death. Many books, recordings, and digital materials remain available. The four official Foundations continue to preserve his teachings, share them in many languages, and organize global discussions and events.

Notable admirers and meetings

Notable individuals influenced by Krishnamurti include George Bernard Shaw, David Bohm, Jawaharlal Nehru, the Dalai Lama, Aldous Huxley, Alan Watts, Henry Miller, Bruce Lee, Terence Stamp, Jackson Pollock, Toni Packer, Achyut Patwardhan, Dada Dharmadhikari, Derek Trucks, U.G. Krishnamurti, and Eckhart Tolle.

George Bernard Shaw met Krishnamurti in his later years and called Krishnamurti the "most beautiful human being" he had ever met. In 1938, he met Aldous Huxley, and the two formed a close friendship that lasted for many years.

In 1947, when Krishnamurti was in India, many important people visited him, including Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In the 1970s, Krishnamurti met several times with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Their conversations covered many topics, some of which were serious. Jayakar believes that Krishnamurti’s message during these meetings may have helped end certain emergency measures Gandhi had imposed during times of political unrest.

Krishnamurti was respected by many religious leaders in India. Nisargadatta Maharaj called Krishnamurti "complete Brahman." Anandamayi Ma referred to him as the "Guru of gurus." When Ramana Maharshi was asked why Krishnamurti dissolved the Order of the Star in the East, he said the Order’s purpose was fulfilled because the "World Teacher" had arrived. Krishnamurti discussed ideas with many Hindu and Buddhist scholars and leaders, including the Dalai Lama. Some of these discussions were later included in Krishnamurti’s books.

In his later years, Krishnamurti met with many religious leaders and scholars, such as Swami Venkatesananda, Anandamayi Ma, Lakshman Joo, Walpola Rahula, and Eugene Schalert. Throughout his life, he also met with many sanyasis and monks in India.

Krishnamurti’s ideas covered many areas, such as religious studies, education, psychology, physics, and consciousness studies. However, he was not widely known in academic circles. Despite this, he met and discussed ideas with scientists and scholars, including physicists Fritjof Capra and E. C. George Sudarshan, biologist Rupert Sheldrake, psychiatrist David Shainberg, and psychotherapists from different backgrounds.

In 1974, Krishnamurti participated in a television series on PBS, where he had 19 dialogues with Alan W. Anderson. These conversations were later published in two books.

In popular culture

A part of Krishnamurti's 1980 talk titled "Why does the mind constantly seek pleasure?" is included in the song "Imprint of Pleasure" by Tube & Berger.

Krishnamurti is a person that Indiana Jones meets in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. In the show, Krishnamurti is shown as a young boy around 10–12 years old. This was around the time he first joined the Theosophical Society. He meets Indiana Jones and becomes friends with him in Season 2, episode 15, titled "Benares, January 1910" (later renamed to "Journey of Radiance"). Indiana Jones, his parents, and his tutor Miss Seymour attend a meeting of the society.

Krishnamurti is an important character in James Harpur's 2021 novel, The Pathless Country.